A/N: Thank you all for the tremendous feedback. I was a little worried about that last instalment as I didn't know how people would take it. Sometimes I just want Rick to have a little break; take some time to get his head right. So glad you all agreed. This is set three days after Rick moved out at the beginning.

Aurora-of-Aragon: There you are; I love hearing from you! Thanks! And I definitely think we'll get a Richonne kiss in S6.

The moon was bright and still high in the sky by the time Rick and Morgan had completed their sweeping perimeter checks while on watch. For the past three days Rick had kept himself busy with sentry duties, fortifying the wall and planning for expansion and development of the Safe-Zone. This was his third straight night watch; he would try to get some sleep for three or four hours and then get up and help tend to the communal garden for a couple of hours, just like he did at the prison.

Tending to the plants helped Rick to order his thoughts and clear his mind; indeed, there was something therapeutic about feeling the cool soil of the earth crumbing under your fingers. Being in the garden offered Rick a quiet moment to himself. It also allowed him access to fresh fruit which he had been leaving on the front step of his house for Michonne and the children to find before they started their day.

Rick knew that he was not the most easy-going person to be around so he appreciated that Michonne, more than anyone else, was still there for him even though they were taking some time apart. He felt as if he was giving her a much needed break as well; that was what gave him comfort presently as being separated from her was eating him up.

As Rick and Morgan made their way along the darkened, empty streets past the house that he, until very recently, shared with Michonne and his children, he instinctively checked it over once more and noticed a faint light coming from Michonne's bedroom window. It seemed she was still awake and Rick sighed as he wondered if she was losing sleep just as he was. The truth was that he missed her so terribly and had to do everything in his power not to go to her.

xXxXx

Michonne's eyes stung and she was tired though sleep evaded her once more. She could not stop thinking about Rick the past few days, even as the time approached two-thirty in the morning she thought of him. Even as she tried to occupy her thoughts with examining the schematics of the Safe-Zone. Michonne was using a pen to mark charts and maps of Alexandria where she thought improvements and developments could be made. It was a job that was in the works, but she found herself being preoccupied with it and focussing much of her energy there.

She checked the time and knew that Rick would soon be finishing his watch duty. She sighed and dropped her marker on top of the papers spread out on her bed.

Rick. Why did things have to be so complicated with him? Can't he just admit his feelings? She thought.

Things would be easier if he could just admit he loved her; they would be able to work it out a lot quicker if Rick could communicate his feelings better. Then, a painful thought crossed Michonne's mind; she thought of the possibility that Rick did not love her like she loved him.

This is what you wanted, she mused. You wanted time alone and all you're doing is pushing him away.

Michonne scrunched the papers and tossed them from her bed onto her floor, followed by the pen. She blew out her candle and reclined in her bed, not getting under the covers. She felt a lump form in her throat as she thought about how Rick did not share her feelings; she rolled to her side and wondered if he felt as alone as she did in that moment.

A week and a half later

The floor of the bathroom was wet in certain places as Rick stood in front of the mirror with only a towel wrapped about his waist; small rivulets of water dripped from his hair to his shoulders and then ran down his bare back. He ran his hands over his face where his beard was beginning to grow thick once more. He knew Michonne preferred him clean shaven; she did not have to say anything, but he did recall the look in her eyes and her wide smile when she saw him without his beard for the first time. Things were a lot simpler then, Rick mused as he slathered his face with shaving cream and picked up his razor. He looked at the time on his watch; he knew Michonne would be there at any moment.

…..

Michonne used the small soft-bristled brush to run through Judith's hair; the small girl squirmed while the woman held her in place.

"Come on now, Judy," Michonne pleaded. "We're going to see your daddy soon. Please be a good girl for me."

"Da-ddy," Judith said plainly.

Michonne's eyes went wide.

"What did you say, Baby Girl? Daddy?" she asked, feeling the excitement grow inside of her.

"Da-ddy," Judith repeated. "Da-ddy, da-ddy."

Michonne gripped Judith and spun her around, placing a kiss to her cheek.

"Oh my goodness, Judy! You said your first word!" she exclaimed, drawing her into a hug. "Quick let's go find your shoes so we can see daddy."

Judith clapped her hands together happily and continued saying the only word she knew how to, daddy.

…..

Rick put the coffee on and was thankful Morgan had left earlier; he was looking forward to eating breakfast with Michonne and Judith that morning. He was pleased Michonne had suggested it and was eager for them to arrive. When he heard the rapping at the front door, he practically sprinted to answer it; the wide smile on his face fell away when he saw that I was not Michonne and Judith meeting him, but Jessie Anderson.

"Morning, Rick!" she said cheerfully.

"Mornin', Jessie," he replied. "What can I do for you?"

She smiled brightly at him as she took in appearance; Rick, with wet hair, only wore his jeans, much like the first time they had met.

"You look good, Rick," she offered as he looked at her awkwardly as he offered thanks.

"What did you need?" he asked, bringing her back to the reason for her visit.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

Rick thought a moment and then stepped to the side, allowing Jessie access. She took a seat on the sofa and then began to speak.

"Are you living here now?" she queried.

Rick shrugged.

"Just for a little while until Michonne lets me go crawlin' back," he said with a slight chuckle.

"I see," said Jessie. "So she kicked you out or something?"

"No," Rick said immediately. "I offered to leave. Needed to give her some time and space."

It did not feel right to him to be discussing his and Michonne's business.

"But that's not what you're here for, is it? Worrying about my current livin' arrangements?" Rick asked.

Jessie blushed and let her eyes roam over his toned body; she went to speak but was interrupted by Rick.

"Look, I'm just gonna throw on a shirt, sit tight; I'll be back in a minute," he said before rushing off to the bathroom to find something that was clean.

As if on cue, Michonne and Judith arrived at Morgan's door; Michonne shifted the baby on her hip and then knocked. Jessie, seeing them through the window, swiftly got up, took out her ponytail, kicked off her shoes and then rushed into the kitchen. Michonne knocked again and this time heard the sound of a woman's voice telling her to enter. She opened the unlocked door and proceeded to make her way in; she stopped when Jessie came out of the kitchen with a smile.

Michonne looked at the woman; she looked comfortable.

"Where's Rick?" Michonne asked, not bothering with a greeting.

Jessie scrunched up her nose a little before whispering; "Shower."

Michonne felt her stomach drop.

"Coffee's almost ready," she said as she flopped down to the sofa and tucked up her feet.

Michonne shook her head.

"She's so beautiful," Jessie said referring to Judith. "Rick sure talks about her a lot."

Just then Rick entered the living room; he smiled brightly at Michonne and Judith.

"Can I hold her?" Jessie asked.

"No," said Michonne flatly. "I don't know you."

Rick looked at them awkwardly before going to get his daughter from Michonne; he could tell that Michonne was unimpressed with something.

"Jessie, I'm gonna have to have a word with you later on. We've got family plans now," he offered, much to Jessie's chagrin.

"Sure, o-of course," she said as she gathered up her shoes and walked to the door, causing Rick to give her a questioning look.

Michonne watched her walk out the door and closed it behind her; Jessie put her shoes back on and tied up her hair on the front step.

"What the fuck was that?" Michonne asked incredulously, her hands placed on her hips.

Rick's brow furrowed.

"What d'ya mean? Jessie?" he asked, taking a seat with Judith as he looked at Michonne.

"What's she doin' here, Rick? At this time of the day lookin' all cosy while you're in the shower?" she asked.

"Hey now, it's nothin' like that," Rick said as he sat up straighter. "She literally just got here. I went to throw on a shirt…"

"Maybe I should just go," Michonne said as she turned towards the door.

"No," said Rick firmly. "I wanted to see you today."

"Looks like you've had a visitor already," she said, sounding annoyed.

Rick placed Judith down on the floor and walked over to Michonne just as she reached for the door handle.

"No," he said again as he gripped her wrist gently.

Michonne looked down at his hand.

"Sorry," he offered, stepping back and letting go. "Look, this whole thing ain't what you think. Just poor timing."

"You asked me over here to talk about us whatever 'us' means, and then that woman's here with you. What am I supposed to think, Rick?" asked Michonne.

"You think somethin' happened there?" Rick asked.

Michonne shrugged.

"Did something happen? Is this what you wanted all along? To get out of our house so you could do whatever the fuck you want? Fuck whomever you want?" she queried.

The mood turned sour.

"No. Of course not. Is that what you really think I'm doin'?"

"I don't know," said Michonne, annoyed with herself for being so upset in front of Rick. "Look, it's fine. You don't have to explain anything to me. I'll just leave…"

"I don't want you to leave, Michonne. I want you to stay. I want you," said Rick as he stepped closer and rested his hand on her shoulder.

She held his gaze and saw the tenderness in his eyes; unable to move, she swallowed hard.

"Please don't go," he whispered. "I only want you."

Rick rubbed his hand up and down Michonne's arm gently before cupping her cheek. His stare moved to her lips as he slowly leaned in.

"Da-ddy."

Rick froze and raised his eyebrow to Michonne who was now smiling.

"Da-ddy!" Judith repeated.

Rick turned around to see his daughter reaching for him.

"When did this happen?" Rick asked Michonne as he went to his daughter and picked her up.

He sat with her on the sofa and held her up, unable to contain his smile.

"This morning," Michonne explained excitedly. "I was doin' her hair and she kept calling out to you."

Michonne sat next to them and watched as Judith ran her tiny fingers over Rick's clean shaven face.

"She likes when I don't have the beard," said Rick as he smiled at Michonne.

They had forgotten about their small spat and what followed.

"Yeah, me too," she said happily.

Rick chuckled.

"That's why I shaved," he said before looking back at Judith. "Come on, Baby Girl. Say it again."

Judith grabbed Rick's nose and spoke once more.

"Da-ddy. Da-ddy," she repeated again and again, causing Rick to laugh and pepper her face with kisses.

Michonne watched them and felt her heart swell with love; she reached over and took Judith's hand.

"Were you practicing with her?" Rick asked.

"Nah," said Michonne as Rick glanced over at her. "I guess I was just talkin' about you all the time. You know, at bedtime and in the morning…Well, all the time, really," she offered with a small, coy smile.

"Sayin' all good things I hope," he said playfully.

Michonne nodded.

"For the most part," she said jokingly, causing Rick to smile wider.

"Guess I deserved that," he said.

"Yeah, a little. I really just talked about how much I missed you; she just smiled and giggled," Michonne said, pressing her lips to Judith's hand.

Rick watched Michonne before he took hold of her hand, gently stroking her fingers with his thumb. He shifted slightly and then leaned in closer, softly offering her a chaste kiss before drawing away and whispering: "I missed you too."